They practised with their powers.

When they weren't hunting with James, or tending the vegetable garden, or refilling the water boiler, or any of a hundred other things that needed to be done.

Routines were too easy to fall into, even now.

Shelia fussed and protested a lot at first, worried about Lauren's arm, but it healed and they kept going.

Their powers mirrored each other, tearing and pushing. Andy's control was poor at first. Every time he used it he remembered Lauren's terrified shrieks, the screams from the soldiers, the ghost of pain in his arm.

"Focus Andy," Lauren scolded as he lost concentration again and left the log he was practising on with a deep split down the centre but no more.

"I'm trying!" he snapped. Not everyone could be perfect like her. He grunted and held his hands out, trying.

The log exploded.

They practised with the glow power as well, though much less frequently. That was more dangerous, more deadly, more destructive. They were careful to keep distance between them and the others when they did that, wary of hurting them accidentally.

They were in the middle of another practise session, with Frank helping and advising them that day. They worked well together: Andy was all offensive and she was defensive, which was useful but not always.

Sometimes she wished she could be a little more offensive.

Maybe it would have done her some good against those soldiers, maybe she wouldn't have been shot and he wouldn't flinch every time he tried to use his powers.

Lauren threw up another shield as he tossed a rock in her direction~

~and something inside her went click.